Mets send ‘great’ Amed Rosario away, but keep the door open

New York Post

14th March 2017

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Amed Rosario departed the Mets’ camp on Tuesday just grateful for the experience. The stud shortstop prospect was among the six players either optioned or reassigned to the minors by the club and now awaits word whether his season will begin at Binghamton or Las Vegas.

“I learned a lot this spring,” Rosario said. “I think a lot just from my teammates and a lot that I can really turn around as part of the fruits of my labor. ” Wuilmer Becerra, Chris Flexen and Marcos Molina were the other Mets players optioned to the minors.

In addition, Chasen Bradford and Adam Wilk were reassigned to the minors. The Rosario was hitting . 267 with three RBIs in 30 for the Mets this spring while showing off his highly regarded defensive skills at shortstop.

Asdrubal Cabrera is set to begin the season at shortstop for the Mets, but manager Terry Collins wouldn’t be surprised if Rosario arrives to the majors in 2017. “I don’t think there’s any question,” Collins said, referring to the possibility of Rosario making his major league debut this year. “He’s got to shrink the strike zone a little bit — he gets a little bit too big — but he’s shown that last year.

“That’s what the big challenge was last year, to get deeper in counts, and he had a huge year. I just think he got caught up in being in camp and showing everybody what he can do. But he is going to be a good player.

” Rosario said he appreciated spending time with Jose Reyes, whom he idolized growing up in the Dominican Republic. “A tremendous experience, truly a pleasure to be able to spend some time with him, just as a human being,” Rosario said. Rosario, according to Collins, has a chance to become a “great” player.